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Private jets' incredible interiors

Washington DC-based photographer Nick Gleis has photographed over 800 private jets - ranging from the Lear 20 series to Boeing 747-400s - in a career that has lasted over 30 years. His vast collection of photographs gives rare insight into the exclusive world and tastes of private jet owners; many of the aircraft photographed by Gleis are owned by royalty and heads of state from countries such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, Dubai and Kazakhstan. Here he shares pictures of some of the most lavish private jets he has photographed and explains what his unusual career entails.

Gleis's professional focus on private jets began in 1979, when he was enlisted to photograph a private Boeing 727-200. He has regularly photographed 30 to 40 aircraft in one year, but now specialises in photographing private aircraft such as the Boeing Business Jet and other 'airline-size' aircraft - with less of those in production, his workload has reduced by about one third from its peak. About 70 per cent of his work is within America, with the rest spread across the world.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

Gleis is often commissioned to photograph aircraft by the designers, completion centres and brokers involved in the development and sale of the aircraft. Once purchased, the aircraft are rarely again seen by the teams who have created them so the photographs provide a final opportunity to document their work. Private jet owners also regularly commission his services but he is prohibited from revealing their identities.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

There can be huge variance between the interiors of different private jets, with designers and completion centres working to a set of very elaborate specifications - often thousands of pages long - in order to create an aircraft to their clients' tastes. Desired interiors have changed significantly in the time Gleis has been photographing private jets, but, if anything, tastes are becoming more restrained: "I see more conservative interiors today than in the past. This is often because owners want a more low-key look and also, like with anything else, a highly customised look to someone’s personal taste brings the value down."

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

Among the most impressive design features he has seen on board are a domed ceiling that changed colour to simulate day, dusk and night. When the night sky was on the ceiling you knew the location of the aircraft in relation to the earth and the star pattern that you’d see if you were standing on the ground was projected on the ceiling.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

Other notable features have included a conference room with a wall made of a clear material that became opaque at the touch of a button (glass is only permitted on aircraft when used in drinks glasses) and a designer named Edese Doret has developed a way of installing a living wall made of plants aboard an aircraft.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

An abalone shell sink and countertop featuring a tap that was cut from one solid piece of aluminium, including red and blue accent lights for the hot and cold knobs.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

Private jet carpets are usually hand woven, or at least are one of a kind. Some are silk while others are wool.

Tables, counters and cabiets on board private jets that appear to be made of solid wood are always venners. The finest and rarest woods are chosen and cut into pieces about 1/6” thick. They are then book-matched and laminated onto a honeycomb carbon fibre material that makes it very light and very strong.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

For Gleis, another feature on private jets that comfortably surpasses commercial carriers is the planes' staff: "The flight attendants, ground crew and flight crew aren’t rude to you on a private aircraft -- and the food won’t make you wish you hadn’t eaten it."

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

Gleis's shoots are typically one of the last things to be done on the aircraft before it is delived to its buyer, with construction of the aircraft having taken six months to two years before that point. His work is frequently interrupted by last-minute alterations and installations but the images are the closest most will ever get to experiencing what life is like in the select number of private jets flying around the world today.

Picture: copyright Nick Gleis Photography

As for which of the commercial carriers Gleis considers closest to replicating the experience of flying by private jet: "Singapore Airlines makes all the rest look like they’re grounded. First Class Singapore Airlines has all the things I like on a private aircraft: polite and helpful flight attendants, comfortable seating, and -- on the A380 -- a private suite with bedding. They have good food and they seem happy that you’re flying with them."